Social Security recipients under full retirement age face a $24,480 earnings limit in 2026, losing $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above it. Only wages, freelance pay, and consulting fees count toward the earnings limit. IRA withdrawals, dividends, and capital gains do not trigger benefit withholding.
Withheld benefits aren't lost permanently. Once you reach full retirement age, SSA recalculates your benefits and repays withheld amounts through larger monthly checks. Many financial professionals are salespeople paid on what they push, not whether you end up wealthier.
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Or, you may feel compelled to work for the purpose of staying busy more so than to supplement your income. The good news is that you're allowed to work while receiving Social Security. But some recipients need to be mindful of an important rule that could result in withheld benefits.
Even though Social Security allows recipients to hold down a job, those getting benefits prior to reaching full retirement age (FRA) are subject to the program's earnings test. The earnings test dictates how much wage-based income can be earned before benefits are withheld on a temporary basis. In 2026, the earnings test limit for workers who will not reach FRA by the end of the year is $24,480.
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